Thursday, 6 March 2014

DIGITAL WORDS / Five Pharrell Williams Tracks You Forgot You Love

It just
came out yesterday but you’re probably already captivated by Pharrell Williams’
new album G I R L. He dominated the sound of the summer
with his turns on ‘Get Lucky’ and ‘Blurred Lines’, and can anyone remember what
life sounded like pre ‘Happy’? As the most prolific artist of our generation
let us not forget the resplendent treasures Pharrell has spoiled us with
previously.

Here are
five Pharrell Williams tunes that you forgot were wholly amazing…

Frontin’

A baby
faced Pharrell (not that he’s actually aged at all…) dropped the sparkling
‘Frontin’’ as his premiere solo single. At the time he insisted that this
minimal groove was to be a one-off as he wanted to be recognised as a producer
rather than a standalone artist… Thank the heavens he changed his mind about
that.

Can I Have It Like That

The lead
single from Pharrell’s debut solo LP In
My Mind (which, weirdly, is not available on iTunes – WTF?) is a stone cold
stonker. Feast upon its glam brass intro and bridge, that deep down throbbing
bass and the nonchalant one line exchanges between Skateboard P and Gwen
Stefani. Yes, Pharrell, you can have it like that. (NB The official video is not on YouTube. I repeat: WTF?)

Take It Off (Dim The Lights)

An album
track from the aforementioned, and criminally underrated, In My Mind, this smooth R&B jam sees Pharrell proclaiming
himself to be “a master baby with your bra” and offering to “help you slide
those panties off”. ‘Take It Off’ is also notable for complimenting the texture
of a woman’s backside (“Damn that booty’s so soft”) rather than its size. Get
moisturising that behind.

Rock Star

Here’s
the definitive example of how masterfully N*E*R*D melded rap and rock into
fluid swag. Let’s also take a second to remember how cool those Neptunes
trucker caps were. Pharrell was setting headwear trends way before that
Vivienne Westwood mountain hat happened ya know.

Lap Dance

Whilst
Pharrell has described G I R L as being inspired by the power of women,
back in the day (and by “the day” we mean 2001) he was all about the strip club
and being a “dirty dog”. Funk doesn’t come much filthier than ‘Lap Dance’ and
its accompanying video makes every other rap depiction of fleshly indulgence seem
shy and retiring.